Bag



Sept; 30, 1958 R. J. WILLIAMS 2, 54, 6

BAG

4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 15, 1954 Sept. 30, 1958 R. J. WILLIAMS2,854,186

BAG

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 15, 1954 Sept. 30, 1958 R. J. WILLIAMS 12,854,186

BAG

Filed March 15, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent 6 BAG RussellJ. Williams, iayton, Mo., assignor to Bemis Bro. Bag Coxnpany, St.Louis, Mo, a corporation of Mis sonri Application March 15, 1954, SerialNo. 416,281

7 Claims. (Q1. 229-55) This invention relates to bags, and moreparticularly to rnnlti-ply paper bags having laterally offset ply seams.

Multi-ply paper bags of the class described are conventionally formedwith either stitched or folded and pasted closures. Bags with stitchedbottom closures are usually provided with a stitched top closure. Bagswith folded and pasted bottom closures (for example, selfopening squaredbottoms or satchel bottoms) may be provided either with a stitched top.closure or a folded and pasted top closure. In the case of a stitchedclosure, the line of holes punched in the bag by the needle which drivesthe stitches through the bag weakens the bag at the closure. Understrain such as may occur when the filled bag is dropped, the stitchesmay cut through the paper. In the case of a pasted closure, the bag isweakened by the creasing and folding incident to the closure,particularly at crease intersections. To offset the weakening effect ofthe closures bags of the class described have usually been made withenough plies to resist cutting the paper in the case of stitchedclosures and to resist tearing at the creases in the case of pastedclosures. This means that one or more plies is useful only as regardsits end portions at the closures, and that its intermediate portionbetween closures has no useful effect, representing a waste of paper.

'Among the several objects of this invention may be noted the provisionof a mode of reinforcing multi-ply bags of the class described at theirend closures to offset the weakness otherwise caused by the stitching inthe case of stitched closures or by the creases in the case of pastedclosures, which eliminates any necessity for the use of one or morecomplete extra plies to offset the weakening effect of the closures,thereby effecting great saving of paper in quantity production; and theprovision of bags with the stated reinforcement adapted for economicalmanufacture. ()ther objects and features will be in part apparent and inpart pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the constructions hereinafterdescribed, the scope of the invention being indicated in the followingclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which several of various possibleembodiments of the invention are illustrated,

Fig. 1 is a semi-diagrammatic view in perspective illustrating procedurein the manufacture of gusseted stitched bottom bags in accordance withthis invention;

Fig. 1A is an enlarged continuation of Fig. l illustrating further stepsin the procedure;

Fig. 2 is a View in perspective of a gusseted stitchedbottom bag of thisinvention as it appears from one side thereof, part of the outer ply ofthe bag being broken away;

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective showing the other side of the Fig. 2bag, part of the outer ply of the bag being broken away;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged line cross-section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing a modification;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged line cross-section taken on line 66 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a View in perspective of a length of multi-ply gusseted tubingadapted to be provided with a pasted selfopening square bottom and apasted top closure, parts of the outer ply of the tubing being brokenaway;

Fig. 8 is a horizontal cross-section taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a vertical cross-section taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is a view in perspective, on a reduced scale, of a self-openingsquare bottom bag formed from the length of tubing shown in Fig. 7, thebag being shown as open, and part of the outer ply of the bag beingbroken away;

Fig. 11 is a view in perspective of a length of multi-ply gussetedtubing adapted to be provided with a pasted selfopening square bottomand a stitched top closure, parts of the outer ply of the bag beingbroken away; and,

Fig. 12 is a view in perspective, on a reduced scale, of a bag formedfrom the length of tubing shown in Fig. 11 having a self-opening squarebottom and a stitched top closure, part of the outer ply of the bagbeing broken away.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, Figs. 1-4 illustrate the manufacture ofgusseted multi-ply stitched-bottom paper bags in accordance with thisinvention. To avoid complication of the disclosure, the manufacture oftwoply bags is shown, but it will be understood that the principles ofthe invention are applicable to the manufacture of bags with more thantwo plies. In accordance with this invention as it pertains to themanufacture of two-ply bags, two Webs of paper 1 and 3 are continuouslydrawn from supply rolls 5 and 7, combined to form a twoply Web at acombining guide Q, and the two-ply web is continuously fed through aconventional tuber (not illustrated) to be formed into tubing. Guide 9is shown as a roll. The webs 1 and 3 travel to the roll 9 in spacedpaths, converging together at the roll to form a two-ply web. The web 1,which eventually becomes the inner ply of the tubing, is shown astravelling from supply roll 5 over an upper guide roll 11 from which itleads downward to the combining roll 9. The web 3, which eventuallybecomes the outer ply of the tubing, is shown as travelling from supplyroll 7 around a lower guide roil 13, from which it travels upward to aguide roll 15, thence forward to a guide roll 17, and thence forward anddownward to the combining roll 9. The bite of webs l and 3 (i. e., thetransverse line on which they come into engagement) is indicated at B.The webs 1 and 3 are combined in laterally offset relation, as isconventional in the manufacture of multi-ply paper bags.

As the webs l and 3 are combined at the combining roll 9, reinforcingpatches or hands 21 are fed in between the webs and pasted in betweenthem, the patches or bands being spaced at bag length intervals alongthe length of the composite two-ply web formed at the combining roll.The patches or bands 21 are severed from a continuous Web 23 of materialdrawn from a supply roll 25. This material may be paper, cloth or anyother suitable reinforcing material. As shown in Fig. l, the width ofweb 23 is preferably somewhat less than the Width of webs 1 and 3. Theweb 23 is drawn from the supply roll 25 at a speed less than the speedof webs 1 and 3 by a pair of draw rolls 27. It is fed by the draw rollsin a preferably downwardly inclined path through a cutter 29 and betweenthe converging webs 1 and 3 into the bite B of the webs. The cutter 29,as shown,

Patented Sept. 30, 1958 may comprise an anvil roll 31 and a double-bladecutter 33, and is adapted to sever the web 23 into patches which are ofan appropriate dimension in the longitudinal direction: ofthe webs 1 and3. Whatthe appropriate 1011- gitudinal dimension is will, be. latermadev clear; in reference to the finished bags. The line on which thecutter cuts,- web; 23.. is preferably spaced from, the bite B of webs 1.and. 3 a distance corresponding generally to the desired lomitudinaldimension for the patch, The tun-- ing of the cutter is such that itsevere the web 23' to form; a patch substantially at the instant thatthe end of the web 23 is caught in the bite of webs 1 and 3, andtheses/cred patchis thereupon drawn in between the webs 1 and 3 at thespeed at which webs 1 and 3 are, travelling. The. patch; is pulled; awayfrom the freshly cut end. of web 23 since web" 23.. is fed by the. drawroll-s. 27 at aspeed lower than the speed of the webs. 1 and 3, thepatches drawn in; between the webs 1 and: 3 are spaced: along the lengthof the webs 1 and 3 at equal intervals. The speed of web 23 in relationto, the. speed of webs 1 and 3 is made such that the spacing of thepatches corresponds to the desired length of the bags to bemanufactured.

The patches or bands 21 are shown as being adhered between the webs 1and 3 by applying a pattern of adhesive (paste) to the inside surface ofthe web 3 as it travels toward the combining roll 9. As illustrated,this is accomplished by means of aspot paster adapted. to apply a pairof rows of spots 37b and 37t across the width of the web 3, the two rowsof the pair being,

spaced longitudinally of the web a distance somewhat and; withsucessively applied pairs spaced at bag length intervals along thelength of the web. The timing of the paster is such that each pair ofrows of paste spots 37b and 372 registers with a patch 21 as the patchis drawn in between the webs 1 and 3, with the two rows 37b and 3'ltlying on opposite sides of the transverse center line C--C of the patchand closely adjacent those edges of thepatch which extend transverselyof the webs.

Thus, there issues from the combining roll 9 the composite web 39consisting of the webs or plies 1 and 3 with the patches or bands 21pasted in between the plies atbag length intervals along the length ofthe composite web. In accordance with the invention as illustrated inFig. 1, the. bands extend from near one side margin of the. compositeweb 39 to near the other. The composite web travels around a guide roll41 and thence to a tuber (not illustrated) where it is formed in,conventional manner into gusseted tubing 43 in whichv the two edges ofeach ply are overlapped and secured. directly together throughout theirlength by adhesive to form an individual tube having a longitudinalseam. The seams of the resultant inner and outer tubes are designated 45and 47. These are laterally offset from one another,

shown in Fig. 1A. The bands extends substantially completely girthwiseof the tubing from near one side of the seamed region of the tubing tonear the other side thereof. Here it will be understood that the widthof the band-forming web 23and hence the transverse dimension of thebands is preferably somewhat less than the: width of the ply-formingwebs 1 and 3 so that the. bands do. not extend into the, ply seams,otherwise the tubing (and bags to be formed therefrom) would be undulythickened. at the seam.

The tubing 43 is severed into individual bag lengths 51 substantially onthe transverse center lines O C ofthe patches. or bands 21 (see Fig.1A). This divides each. individual patch or bands. 21 intov two patchesor bands 21b and 2lt, and results in each bag length 51 having a patchor band, 2112 at one end, and a, patch band 21! at the other. The band21b of each bag length is pasted in between the two plies 1 and 3 of thebag length by the row of spots 37b, and the band 21t is pasted inbetween the plies by the row of spots 37t. Rows 37b and 37t, havingoriginally been located adjacent thetransverse edges of bands 21, arespaced from the respective ends of the bag length. Each bag length isbottomed bystitching together its front and back walls adjacent, one;end ofthe baglength (the end including band 21b) as indicated at 53 inFigs. 2 and 3. The stitches extend wise of the bag (longitudinally ofplies 1 and 3) need.

be. only suflicient to account for the spacing of the stitchingabove thebottom of the bag (standard spacingbeing one-half inch) plus enoughspace for the paste spots, and.

.it will be clear that the appropriate longitudinal dimension for eachband 21 is twice this. Each bag length. is also ultimately closed at itstop by a line of, stitching like stitching- 53, with the .top stitchesextending through 4 the band 21: above the row of paste spots 37t;. It;will .be understood that the top closure may be formedeither afterfilling, or after the formation of a valve; and, before filling;

Inthe filled bag provided with thestitched bottom and. top closures, thepatches or hands 21b and Mt act, as, re.

inforcement to prevent the stitches from cutting through the bag pliesunder strain such as is incurred when the bag is dropped. 7 This.reinforcement results from the bands being. pasted in between the bagplies, wherebythey are locked or anchored against moving outward fromtween the plies. Each band provides two extra; thick:

nesses of paper for reinforcement, except in, the region of the plyseams, but here there are two extra thick-- nesses irrespective ofthebands in view of the overlapping of the margins of the plies. Hence,the absence of band material in the region of the ply seams is notdetrimental to the strength of the bag. The bands also provide rein:forcement at the corners of the fitted bag.

It will be understood that in some cases it maybe dosirable to have thebands pasted to both plies more S- curely to anchor them in between theplies. be particularly desirable where the band material is, ofconsiderably higher strength than the bag ply material and additionalpasting is needed to utilize the full, strength of, the band material.Under th se circumstances, paste may be applied to web 1, as well as toWeb 3, by a pastel? similar to the paster 35.

The bags may be manufactured, with more. than two plies simply bycombining additional webs with webs; 1.

and 3 at the combining roll, 9, as will be readily under- I stood. It isalso contemplated that bags, which have. more than two plies may havemore than one band at: each end. For example, a three-ply bag may havetwo bands at each end, one pasted in between the inner, ply andintermediate ply, and, the other pasted in between the intermediate plyand the outer ply. i

It will be observed that the stitched closure for. a gusseted bag isinherently reinforced where" it traverses-me:

or bands, which are designated 61b and 61t to distinr This may guishthem from bands 21b and 21t. Each of bands 61b and 612 is pasted inbetween the plies of the front wall (the unseamed wall) of the bag, thebottom edge of the bottom band 6112 being coincident with the bottomedges of the plies, the top edge of the top band 61t being coincidentwith the top edges of the plies. The transverse dimensions of the bandsand their position are such that their side edges are approximatelycoincident with the inner creases 63 of the gussets. Thus, the bandsreinforce the stitching in the two-ply region of the front wall of thebag between the gussets. Outward of the side edges of the bands, thegussets provide reinforcement. In the back wall of the bag, thelongitudinal ply seams provide reinforcement. It will be understood thatbags of the type shown in Figs. and 6 may be manufactured in the samemanner as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 1A, using a relatively narrowpatch-forming web.

Figs. 7-9 illustrate a length of gusseted two-ply paper tubing 71provided toward its ends with patches or hands pasted in between itsplies and specially adapted to be provided with a pasted self-openingsquare bottom and a pasted top closure. The inner ply of the tubing isdesignated 73, and the outer ply 75. The seam for the inner ply isindicated at 77 and the seam for the outer ply at 79. The bottom band isdesignated 81b and the top band 81t. Each of these bands extendssubstantially completely girthwise of the tubing from near one side ofthe seamed region of the tubing to near the other side thereof. Thelower edge of the bottom band is spaced from the bottom edges of theplies and the upper edge of the top band is spaced from the top edges ofthe plies to avoid undue stiffening of the end regions of the tubing.The heightwise dimension of the bottom band 81b is such that it extendssomewhat above the uppermost crease 83 which is made in forming thebottom according to conventional and well-known bag bottoming procedure.The heightwise dimension of the top band is shown as corresponding tothat of the bottom band. The bottom band is pasted in between the pliesby a row of spots of paste 85b which is located above the uppermostcrease 83 adjacent the upper edge of the band. The extension of the bandabove this crease need be only sufiicient for the pasting. The top bandis similarly pasted in between the plies by a row of spots of paste 85tadjacent the lower edge of the band. Conventional bottoming slits areindicated at 87.

Fig. 10 illustrates the self-opening square bottom bag formed from thelength of tubing shown in Fig. 7. The bottom comprises side flaps 89folded in one lines 91, a flap 93 folded in from the front wall of thebag on line 95, and a flap 97 folded in from the back Wall of the bag online 99 overlying and pasted to flap 93. It will be understood that inthe conventional manufacture of bags with self-opening square bottoms,they are creased on the line 83 where the front wall is folded back informing the bottom. All the bottom creases, including the creases 83,are reinforced by the band 81b. Band 81! similarly reinforces thecreases made in forming a pasted top closure for the bag.

Fig. 11 illustrates a length of gusseted two-ply paper tubing 101 thelower part of which is like the lower part of the length of tubing 71 ofFig. 7, including a band 81b for reinforcing a self-opening squarebottom, and the upper part of which is like the upper part of the bagshown in Figs. 2 and 3, including a band 21t for reinforcing a stitchedtop closure. Fig. 12 shows the bag made from the length of tubing shownin Fig. 11 with a self-opening square bottom identical to that shown inFig. 10, and a line of stitching 103 at its top with the stitchesextending through the band 21t in the unpasted area above the row ofpaste spots 372. which secure band 21t between the plies.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of theinvention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention, it is intended that allmatter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanyingdrawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

I claim:

1. A multi-ply paper bag formed from a length of multi-ply paper tubingand having a front wall and a back wall, the plies of the tubing havingthe edges thereof which extend lengthwise of the tubing laterallyoffset, the two edges of each ply being overlapped and secured togetherby adhesive to form an individual tube having a longitudinal scam, theseams of said individual tubes being laterally offset by reason of thelateral offset of the edges of the plies, and all of the seams beinglocated in the back wall of the length of tubing, said tubing having atleast at one end thereof a band of reinforcing material extendinggirthwise of the tubing between two of said individual tubes across thefront wall and around into the back wall, the length of said band beingless than the girth of said tubing and said band being so positioned inrelation to the girth of said tubing as to terminate short of the seamof at least one of said two tubes, and the two edges of each plyincluded in the seam of the respective tube being adhered directlytogether throughout the entire length of the seam, means anchoring thehand between said two tubes, and means securing together portions ofsaid front and back walls of the tubing at said end of the tubing toprovide a closure, said band having a portion thereof located within andreinforcing said closure.

2. A multi-ply paper bag formed from a length of multi-ply paper tubingand having a front wall and a back wall, the plies of the tubing havingthe edges thereof which extend lengthwise of the tubing laterallyoffset, the two edges of each ply being overlapped and secured togetherby adhesive to form an individual tube having a longitudinal seam, theseams of said individual tubes being laterally offset by reason of thelateral offset of the edges of the plies, and all of the seams beinglocated in a region of the back wall of the length of tubing, two bandsof reinforcing material, one at each end of the length of tubing,extending girthwise of the tubing between two of said individual tubesthereof across the front wall and around into the back wall, the lengthof each of said bands being less than the girth of said tubmg and saidbands being so positioned in relation to the girth of said tubing as toextend from near one side to near the other side of the said seamedregion of the back wall of the length of tubing and terminate short ofsaid seamed region, and the two edges of each ply included in the seamof the respective tube being adhered directly together throughout theentire length of the seam, means anchoring the bands between said plies,and a line of stitching closing at least one end of the bag andextending through the band at said end of the bag, said hand through itsanchorage between the plies acting as reinforcement to prevent thestitching from cutting through the bag plies.

3. A multi-ply paper bag as set forth in claim 2 wherein the anchoringmeans comprises adhesive applied on a line offset from the line ofstitching.

4. A multi-ply paper bag as set forth in claim 3 wherein the adhesive isapplied on a line spaced inward from the line of stitching.

5. A multi-ply paper bag formed from a length of multi-ply paper tubingand having a front wall and a back wall, the plies of the tubing havingthe edges thereof which extend lengthwise of the tubing laterallyoffset, the two edges of each ply being overlapped and secured togetherby adhesive to form an individual tube having a longitudinal scam, theseams of said individual tubes being laterally offset by reason of thelateral oifset of the edges of the plies, and all of the seams beinglocated 7 ina region of. the backwall of, thelength, of tubing-,. twobands, of reinfiorcing material, one at each end of, the length oftubing, extending girthwise of the; tubing be,- tween two of saidindividual tubes thereof across. th v front wall and around into theback wall, the lengthoi each of said bands being less than the girth ofsaid tubing and said bands being so-positioned in relation to the girthof said tubing as to extend from near one side, to near the other sideof the said seamed region of the back wall of the length of tubingfand'terminate short of said seamed region, and, the two edges of each plyincluded, in the seam ofthe respective tube being adhered directlytogether throughout'the entire length of the in the bands are spacedfrom the ends of the length of tubing. 7 I

7. A multi-ply paper bag as set forth in claim 5wherein the bands areanchored between the plies by adhesive only in region located inwardfrom the, ends of the 3 length, of tubing 21 distaneegreater thauthespacing of the. innermost 0:15, said, folds from the respective. end. ofthe length of. ubing... V 4

Refierences (Cited in the. fileof this patent UNITED STATES 962,9341,910,449. Rose May 23, 1933. 1,914,113 Eaton lune 13, 1933 1,922,867R0sm it Aug., 1-5, 1933. 2,092,602 Finn. et a1 Sept. 7,1937 2,116,571,Gurwick May 10, 193.8] 2,220,874 Waters Nov. 5., 1940, 2,260,064 StokesOct. 21, 1941 2,311,733 Bushman Feb/2 3, 1943 2,330,015 Stokes ,.Sep.t.21,, 1943 2,330,255 Ames Sept. 28, 1943 2,442,431 Peters et al. 1 June1, 19,48, 2,493,349 Hoppe Ian. 3, 1950v 2,625,318 R'oss Jan. 13, 1953,2,745,593 Brady May 15, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 512,903 Belgium Aug. 14',1952 Weathenwax June 2-8,, 1910 EARL UNITEDWSTATES rlTENT UFFICE HCE'HFICATE OF CQRRECTIUN Patent Non 2,854,186 September 30, 195

Russell J. Williams It is Iuerebj certified that error appears in theprinted specification of the above numbered patent requiring correctionand that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected belowo Column'7, line 22, for the claim reference numeral "5" read 6 g line 24, for"region" read regions Signed and sealed this 30th day of December 1958.

( Attest:

" ROBERT c. WATsoN Cossioner of Patents Attesting' Oflicer

